“Fire service is very costly,” Carter said. “This is a way to be equitable in sharing the cost.”

Carter said the council had taken another look at rates first proposed and decided to use a 70 percent cost recovery on fire service costs instead of 100 percent.

At that rate, the school board would pay approximately $400,000 to $500,000 a year in the fire fees.

The city also plans to charge per parcel, not per building, Carter said.

School board member Julie Wade said she had a problem with one government entity taxing another.

“I don’t like you taxing an entity that has a different tax base,” Wade said.

Levett noted the board doesn’t get a vote on the matter.

“It impacts us, but we are not voting on this,” the superintendent said.

Byrne suggested a letter be drafted from the board to the city council on the fire fees.

In other business the board:

Approved a one year contract for Savannah Classical Academy Charter School. The school is currently on probation by state action. The school will have to meet several benchmarks to improve, including academics.

Approved naming the new Spencer Elementary School after Andrea B. Williams, the school’s principal who recently died. The cafeteria will be named for school’s current namesake, Frank W. Spencer.